It’s Official: ‘American Idol’ Renewed For 14th Season

Even with the ratings declines, there had been no doubt that American Idol would return next season. Fox has made it official, announcing auditions in 15 cities for Season 14. Host Ryan Seacrest had been in negotiations to return. For the past three years, American Idol had alternated with The X Factor on the midseason and fall schedule. With The X Factor cancelled, Fox might use another unscripted series, like new social experiment Utopia, in the fall.

27 Comments

asd • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

And the world responds with a collective, “That’s still on?”

stan • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

The show needs an overhaul. Its consistently predictable. Its teasing of the audience made for good television but it AI over did and people started to DVR the show and then watch the performances and skip all the in between bs. “And the contestant that is going home is” ,,, “We will let you know right when we come back”. That type of show no longer works. PEOPLE WILL DVR the show and scan threw it. Randy Jackson started each sentence with “DAWG” and he should of been fired years ago. Next year the show should only be on one night a week. More singing less BS.

Television Scout • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

I don’t recall who said this, but I once read a quote from a broadcast television executive [many years ago, back when TV Guide used to run longer profile stories in their original size] who said his greatest concern and fear over his [and his mgmt. team’s] program decision making was not canceling a series too early, but canceling a series too late.

Fourteen seasons is a long time – a success. Why not close things out at the end of this coming season (2015), and wrap up AI on their [AI] terms, on a high note, under their control?

What’s the other option at this point? Go on and on until the network has to force AI off the stage? Is that what the producers of AI want? To be dragged kicking and screaming off the stage? Because, unless and until AI and FOX can work out an agreement to wrap things up on this series sometime in the next season (maybe 2?), that is what’s coming – an unpleasant end for AI. After all these years of success, to end that way is really going to be a shame, and an unnecessary way to end the series.

Apres Ski • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

TV Scout, I couldn’t have written it better myself! They see it going down the tubes and yet, they’re going to run it into the ground because they fix it.

WOW! How dense are these people? No really? How dense are they? Or are those lines of coke just that good that they don’t care anymore???

lethargic • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

This makes no sense whatsoever. There is no right or wrong way to “end” American Idol. There’s nothing to “wrap up”. It’s a singing competition. It’ll stay on as long as it makes money. Which will probably be for a very long time to come.

Television Scout • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

But is it still making money? Are the advertisers still paying the same rates as they did back when the show was bringing in 30m viewers a week?

Will the record labels follow the show to sign up the next ‘idol’ if there hasn’t been a successful contestant on the show in years.

Does FOX make money on this show? Ask FOX – do they use AI as a solid lead-in show to help promote new series? They haven’t done that successfully in years – maybe ‘Glee’ was the last. Nellie noted that one new Fox comedy series was canceled today, perhaps due in large part to the horrible location it was placed on the FOX schedule. Where was it placed? Right after AI.

Look, it is just my opinion, and it is worth what you pay for it – nothing. ;) But that said, it is hard to make money on a show that is bringing in 6m viewers and a 2.0 in the demo when the production costs are what they are. Maybe they are producing AI now on a shoe string budget – terrific – they can ‘hang on’, but somewhere along the way, they’ll have to cut costs to bring the show in line with what the revenue stream has not become, which is far less than in the show’s hey-day at 30m viewers/week.

Go out with a bang, or go out with a whimper. It’s up to FOX and AI, but ‘making money’ on this show is ‘done’ – those days are in the rear view mirror now.

Louise • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

Um – the short answer is ‘yes’ – it is still making money for FOX.

You know how I know that? Because FOX just renewed it.

As far as going out on a ‘high note’ or a ‘whimper’ — you’re assuming that the producers care about that. They might, I mean I’m sure they want it to be a good show and all, but so what?. Their job is to keep mounting the show until they aren’t getting paid to do it anymore.

John • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

Maybe the executive producers will wake up for season 15 and don’t bring back judges that have failed to bring up the TV ratings in the past seasons?

lethargic • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

The judges are meaningless. It’s the contestants. Until they can get back to getting exciting talent back on stage who put on must see performances, it doesn’t matter who the judges are. People don’t watch for the judges. They watch for the contestants. This year and last year have sorely lacked star power on that stage. They’ve had a handful of people who could sing well, but no sure fire stars in the making like a Clarkson, Underwood, Daughtry, Lambert, etc.

Doc Michaels • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

You are 100% right. It’s about the talent — it wasn’t there this year, it wasn’t there last year. Frankly even in the Philip Phillips winning season, it wasn’t there for the most part either.

What the show needs is clearly a new producer and someone to get EXCITING contestants with some PERSONALITY back on the show. It’s what has been absent from Idol for several years running.

They can tinker with the judges but in the end, viewers are either compelled to watch — or not — because of the talent involved. And for the last several seasons of Idol, it hasn’t been there. They need new blood BEHIND the scenes to find it.

Apres Ski • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

Really? Seriously? Are you kidding? I don’t even watch J. Lo’s wardrobe. That show has worn me out and I don’t have time to watch it anymore.

But mainly, I miss Simon Cowell like no one else. Boy, could he judge and hit the nail on the head.

Oh well . . .

Anonymous • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

AI is a bigger three card monty scam than any scummy scammers walking the streets of New York. How or why any advertisers or viewers, for that matter, still support this facade is a complete mystery. Only three — THREE — people in fourteen years have come out of this lame competition to carve out moderately successful careers. There’s simply no audience for this. …And no one supports the lame touring shows they put on at the end of every season. They only people whose careers have benefitted from this dreck is the host and judges.

Cumberbatches • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

“They only people whose careers have benefitted from this dreck is the host and judges.”

Yes, tell that to Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood or Chris Daughtry…show us another singing-reality show that has produced legitimate music stars like Idol has.

CMG • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

A few more than three, although admittedly still less than you might expect. Of the winners, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery, and Phillip Phillips have done reasonably well for themselves. And of non-winners, Chris Daughtry, Adam Lambert, Kelly Pickler, and Jennifer Hudson are the standouts. Quite a number of others have had success on Broadway stage and screen, although perhaps not as pop recording artists.

Kimberly • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

Fourteen years of nonscripted, non-union programming. Good job with that screenwriter’s strike.

This year, the problem was no longer the judges, it was the unexciting talent.

QJ201 • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

The show is “dying” because it is stuck in its over produced cheese.
If it were only about the singing and judging…

Robbie Robertson • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

They should treat it as their final year…bring back the original 3 judges with Paula, Randy and Simon…and have former Idols be the mentors. It would be a nice way to wrap it up and go out on a high note.

Rod • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

It’s the FOX network admission before upfronts: “We got nuttin’.” Even though I think they should have given Idol the axe, I understand how hard it is nowadays to get viewers engaged week after week in new shows when they air live, no matter how compelling and high quality/concept they might be. It’s all so much easier to stream it later or DVR it. Renewing very marginally performing shows is becoming more common for all the nets. While the huge initial ratings of some reality shows like Idol are understandably like crack for network execs, it’s not like Idol or its reality peers have any syndication or repeat value and most take up a huge chunk of network real estate. When these shows start to fail, it can bring the entire network down with them and start to infect surrounding shows. The lesson is that successful reality programming can come with some very, very steep hidden costs if they are left on the air beyond their expiration date.

Jennifer • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

They haven’t produced a star since Katherine McPhee, and she hardly uses her talent. Before that it was Carrie Underwood, who maxed hers out, and Kelly Clarkson, almost ditto, and that’s it (if she hadn’t hit big in the very first season there never would have been a second).

Go back to exactly the first season format with Simon, Paula and Randy and see if they can get another superstar. Otherwise pull the plug.

Jed • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

One simple question…WHY? This show jumped the shark years ago and are the folks at FOX that desperate to fill in timeslots? First they renew that horrible Mindy Project and now they renew this drivel? Reilly might be out the door sooner than he thinks at the pace he is going. Unbelievable!

riler46 • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

Harsh critics obviously not musical people or people with lives above.
Raw talent in a pure competition. judges make relevant criticism and each season some memorable performances
Angie miller Jena Irene this year. Caleb etc.
I hope the show continues for more years

Rod • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

The addition of Harry Connick, Jr. this year was perfect. As a guest mentor the prior season, he nailed the issues with the contestants. This year as a judge, he perfectly balances the stupid puppy dog comments of J Lo. He gives solid industry advice and dare I say, better than Simon Cowell ever did. If you controversy sells, promote Harry’s brutal honesty. Being somewhat musically inclined, I got tired of the pumped up drama. Harry brought American Idol back to what it originally was – a singing competition. Give this judging panel one more year to gel. Could be as good as the original and hopefully produce another superstar.

DG • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

i think America idol sucks i cant believe they cancelled rasing hope beside kelly clarkson every other american idol winner sucks this show suck shows like this is the reason i dont want cable i just watch what i really want online FOX you suck american idol suck’s bring raising hope back

Shelagh Mercer • on May 7, 2014 7:48 pm

I really enjoy American Idol. It’s fine like it is. Let’s get on with the Show.